While electric vehicles in France only make up less than two per cent the country does have one key advantage over other European nations. The French government still holds a considerable share in Peugeot, Citroen and Renault giving it a considerable amount of influence over the direction that these companies will take.

Charles Platiau / Reuters
French Minister of Ecological and Social Transition Nicolas Hulot speaks during a news conference to present his five-year "Climate plan".

Mr Hulot, an ex-journalist and environmental campaigner, is just one of many new hires by French President Emmanuel Macron designed to shake up France’s current political climate.

Following in the footsteps of President Macron, Mr Hulot made it clear that France would not be following the same path as the US after it decided to pull out of the Paris Agreement.

Mr Hulot said: “France has decided to become carbon neutral by 2050 following the US decision,”